Ni Hao is Everywhere

Once a student nurse, I was obligated to have a set of blood pressure apparatus for hospital and community exposure use. Thinking of quality, durability and efficiency of a product, I dropped my cousin a line, who is working as a nurse in the United States of America, for an "imported one". The package arrived. I was so excited for my "imported BP apparatus. Ouf ot my thoughts, my father have had already opened my stuff. I checked my new BP apparatus and I've noticed my father highlighted something at the back. To my surprise the highlighted part was MADE IN CHINA. Funny it may say, I've had a twist of emotion. 

"God made the earth and the rest is made in China." Hilarious may it sounds but reality lies underneath. It seems as if almost all of the products in the world are made from China. From appliances, toys, fashion and beauty products, hi-tech gadgets and latest trends are almost with same label - Made in China. Take this one fact: iPods are made in China and a key iPod chip was designed in India, however, the noticeable bulk of profits from sales stays with Apple in America. You may ask, "Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Upsides
The dramatically increasing jobs and opportunities for our chinese friends is an exclaiming positive source of their revenues that identified China as one of the world's biggest economist. Hence, these bring at least lots of benefits to the people of China who have been fated to be peasants for the rest of their lives. The enormous population of China can really help the chinese economy in terms manpower resources or workforce. Accepting foreign investors and other economist as well helps a lot to Chinese economy and the like. Jobs offshored and imports in China modifies the economy and lives of Chinese as a whole.

Downsides
For the past years we were terrified with the safety of Chinese products. Up to now, we’ve seen problems with pet food, toothpaste, seafood, children’s toys and the scandalous milk products with melamine. The quality which is the important thing to consider is depleted that the trust of consumers and the reputation of China is surely at stake. With regards to this incidence, China should implement what rules they set. China has food safety and product safety laws on its books, but they are not reliably enforced. China should stop exporting substandard items to regain the trust of the world that is made in China.

So which is preferable, cheap and poor quality? or expensive and QC passed seal? The peculiar thing is, even the QC (Quality Control) passed seals are sometimes fake as well. Well in my case, I’d still love to buy cheap stuff but I make it a point to scrutinize the items first before buying it. Be not an impulsive buyer or else you will get a sweet non bubbling toothpaste. Be wise and think twice. Cheap or expensive, it’s with your taste anyway.

Mouth to Mouth, Dude?

After several months of laziness, hectic schedules, graveyard shifts and lack of sleep; I am writing again. If I could just print what’s in my head, I supposed I have lots of blog post now. Unfortunately when I try to scribble it, the ideas I was thinking will just pop out. Well maybe I’ll spare this one. 

Science and Medicine is a never ending tale of discoveries just to make life easy, convenient and comfortable. Same as well in saving lives. Every year new medicines are discovered just to cure ailments either palliative or as treatment; the reason is to help save lives. Just this morning I talked to a friend from the West, who recently got a new job (Congratulations!), asked me something which made me think. At that point I typed it in Google and gave me something fresh, new, and very helpful information. How stupid I was not to know this, I suppsosed I am a nurse. Well better late than never!

For decades, *American Heart Association (AHA) uses CPR or Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation. This technique is use as first aid to revive patients who are unresponsive, non-pulsatile, and may experiencing heart attack or anything that cause the heart to stop. CPR is performed by alternately giving pressure to the chest or compression and breathing to the patient’s mouth or nose.

The process is done until the patient is revived or when the hospital is reached. The technique was formerly performed in 2 breaths and 30 compressions alternately. Few years ago it was changed to 1:15 ratio (1 breath and 15 compressions). 

It feels awkward to do this procedure to a stranger especially the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. You might ask yourself, have she/he brushed her/his teeth or maybe gargled before leaving home? Yeah, I might say so. Even medical personnel such as nurses, doctors, and paramedics might be hesitant to do so. For sure they will find ways just to avoid the mouth-to-mouth procedure like AMBUbag (if it’s available), donut shape handkerchief or whatsoever just to avoid the contact with the patient’s mouth. Well, the fact that that person might have communicable disease is one of the reason as well why caution is needed.

Here's the GOOD NEWS! In a major change, the American Heart Association said that hands-only CPR — rapid, deep presses on the victim’s chest until help arrives — works just as well as standard CPR for sudden cardiac arrest in adults.

Experts hope bystanders will now be more willing to jump in and help if they see someone suddenly collapse. Hands-only CPR is simpler and easier to remember and removes a big barrier for people skittish about the mouth-to-mouth breathing.

First, call 911 and push hard and fast on the middle of the person’s chest. Hands-only CPR calls for uninterrupted chest presses — 100 a minute — until paramedics take over or an automated external defibrillator is available to restore a normal heart rhythm.

This action should be taken only for adults who unexpectedly collapse, stop breathing and are unresponsive. The odds are that the person is having cardiac arrest — the heart suddenly stops — which can occur after a heart attack or be caused by other heart problems. In such a case, the victim still has ample air in the lungs and blood and compressions keep blood flowing to the brain, heart and other organs.

A child who collapses is more likely to primarily have breathing problems — and in that case, mouth-to-mouth breathing should be used. That also applies to adults who suffer lack of oxygen from a near-drowning, drug overdose, or carbon monoxide poisoning. In these cases, people need mouth-to-mouth to get air into their lungs and bloodstream.

This is how you do it...

The association took the unusual step of making the changes now  because three studies last year showed hands-only was as good as traditional CPR. Hands-only will be added to CPR training.

Now, you can be a hero in your own simple way by the power of your two hands and your strength to compress somebody's chest; extend someone's life. What I have in mind is, of course I can do both CPR with mouth-to-mouth and even without. In any case if somebody collapse and when you that person lying and he looks like Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie, will you use without mouth-to-mouth? You better answer it right.

                               *Thanks to www.msbn.msb.com and to YOU!

Revived Blog

Wow, it has been six years since I wrote my last blog post. Well, live has been very busy and priorities have been changed. For the last 6 years, a lot of changes have had happened in my life.

•  I went to another country hoping to get a better job and better life, nada. I went home after several months.
• I started a new job. Graveyard shift. Who would have the time to write blogs? ME!
• Tried to get a nursing job outside the country AGAIN. Nada.
• Meet the man of my life, got engaged.
• Migrated to the United States, got married and got pregnant right away.
• Now, a mother of an 18-month-old baby girl!

This seems a very short blog for 6 years, don't you think?

Well, don't worry. I will update my blog post more often now.